Garment



F M. L. RIEFFANNACHT 1,972,795

GARMENT Filed July 31, 1934 MAUD L. RiEFFANNACHT 6 concealed utility seat Patented Sept. 4, 1934 v 1,912,795 GARMENT Maud L. Riefl'annacht,

New York, N. Y.

Application July 31, 1934, Serial No. 737,687 3 Claims. (01. 2-67) This invention relates to garments of the one piece variety such as bathing suits having a body portion and integral or permanently attached leg portions, but more particularly ments, and is, in part, a continuation of my earlier application Serial No. 613,810, filed May 2'1, 1932. It has heretofore been necessary for the wearer of a garment of the above type practically to disrobe for utility purposes; and the advantages of the new and improved utility seat embodied in my invention will be obvious. In carrying out this invention I provide a utility seat which is normally perfectly concealed but which offers immediate and ample accessibility and convenience for utility purposes without any necessity of disrobing or of even disturbing the iastenings or parts of the garment which are. or may be provided for facilitating the donning and clotting of the same.

One object of my invention is to provide a utility seat for one piece garments, such as bathing suits and sport suits, which may be particularly adapted for sport wear, by girls or young ladies as a school costume or other one piece girls. or ladies garment, other than undergarments, having integral or permanently connected body and leg portions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a utility seat of internal construction for such a one piece garment so that even when made of thin or transparent material, the garment may be worn without underclothing.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form and construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. I

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a form of bathing suit embodying my invention and showing the concealing parts of the crotch shield in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a front view showing the inner ,construction of Fig. 1 applied to a sport suit with combination shirt and skirt.

Fig. 3 is-an enlarged view of the crotch piece or inner parts of Figs. 1 and 2 shown removed from the garment.

Fig. 4 is a front view showing the inner cohit relates to a'for opening for such gar in a free edge 18. Secured to struction of Fig. 1 applied to the sport suit with ?combination shirt and shorts.

-Fig. 1 discloses the invention as applied to a bathing suit. In this figure the reference numeral 2 represents a bathing suit having an upper portion 4 with shoulder straps 6 and. a lower skirt portion 8 which extends downwardly over a portion of the thighs of the wearer.

The reference numeral 10 generally indicates a crotch portion which has a front portion 12 and a back portion 14. The front portion 12 is permanently secured either by stitching or knitting to the inner surface of the front waist of the bathing suit. In Fig. 1 a row of stitching 16 represents the permanent securing means used. The croth portion extends downwardly, then through the legs of the wear, and up the back beneath the lower skirt portion 8. It is not, however,'secured to the back waist portion of the outer portion of the bathing suit but terminates this free edge 18 is a belt 20 which, as shown in Fig. 1, passes through openings 22 in the outer portion of the bathing suit. The belt may be secured in,frcnt by tying or by a buckle or by any other suitable means. A second belt member 24 may be secured to the first as at 25 on each side of the suit. The purpose of this second belt member 24 will be described hereinafter.

The lower portion of the front and back portions of the crotch 10 are widened to constitute upper leg encircling portions 26 which may be fastened on the side by buttons and buttonholes 28 or other suitable means. As shown in Fig. 3 only one of the leg encircling portions 26 may be provided with fastening means. The other may be permanently joined as by knitting or stitching. The lower skirt portion 8 of the bathing suit extends downwardly a distance where it substantially conceals the leg encircling portions 26 of the crotch member.

From the above description it should be apparent that the novel'crotch portion constitutes the tights of the bathing suit while at the same time provides a drop seat for utility purposes. When it is desired to use the seat the supporting belt 20 is unsecured so that it will drop to the position shown in Fig. 28 is unsecured. The seat or back portion 14 may then be pulled down from the back and to one side. The arrangement is such that this may be easily accomplished and the parts in no way bind the wearer or cause discomfort. I

In readjusting the crotch piece, it is merely necessary to pull back the ends of the belt 20,

and fasten them in front. The purpose of the second belt 24 is to prevent the free ends of the belt 20 from slipping through the openings 22 when the arrangement is used for utility purposes. It also encircles the outer back waist portion when the arrangementis not so used to give a continuous belt effect. It should be understood that other means perhaps less efficient or stylish could be used for keeping the free ends of the belt 20 from passing through the openings 22.

The part of the crotch member 10 which passes through the legs of the wearer is, of course, shaped to conform to that portion of the wearers body and may or may not have intersecting seams or stitching for this purpose.

From the above, it should be manifest that the invention provides a novel combination of great valueto bathers. The crotch portion with its leg encircling portion not only comprises the tights of the bathing suit, but the elements are so joined that by a few simple operations the arrangement may be conveniently and comfortably used for utility purposes.

From all outward appearances the invention cannot be distinguished from the usual bathing garment.

Fig. 2 shows the invention as applied, for exam- Dle. to a Girl Scout uniform. The uniform ,comprises an upper portion 30 in the form of a blouse which has an integral skirt portion 32'depending therefrom. The crotch portion 34 is exactly similar to the crotch portion 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and it is secured in relatively the same fashion as the crotch portion is secured in Fig. 1.

Instead of a skirt portion 32, the arrangement may have a divided skirt portion or shorts as shown in Fig. 4. In such instance, however, a slit 36 must be provided in the crotch of the shorts. This slit may be formed with overlapping edges so as to be concealed during ordinary wear.

When the invention is applied to such a uniform it is clear that the crotch portion 34 provides the proper protection for the wearer While at the same time the garment may be quickly, conveniently and comfortably adjusted for utility purposes.

Although the drawing and the above specification disclose the best modes in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, I desire to be in no way limited to the details of such disclosure, for in the further practical application of my invention, many changes in the construction and in the details may be made as circumstances may require or experience suggest without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A combination athletic garment of the character described comprising an outer waist and hip encircling portion extending downwardly a distance to conceal substantially the crotch of the wearer and below the waist being formed of a continuous band of material, an inner trousers portion comprising inner back, front and crotch portions and integral leg encircling portions, means for securing the upper extremity of the inner front trousers portion to the inner front waist line of said outer portion, the back of said trousers portion terminating in a free unsecured edge beneath said outer portion, means for detachably supporting the upper extremity of the back inner trousers portion about the body of the wearer at the waist line, one of said leg encircling portions being open atthe outside of the leg, andmeans for detachably securing the edges of said opening.

2. In a bathing garment of the class described comprising an outer waist and hip encircling.

portion extending downwardly a distance to conof said trousers portion and passing through side.

openings provided in the outer portion to the front of the garment exteriorly of said outer portion for supporting the upper extremity of the back trousers portion about the body of the wearer at the waist line, means for limiting withdrawal of said belt through said openings, one of said leg encircling portions opening at the outside of the leg, and means for detachably securing the edges of said opening.

3. In a one piece bathing garment of the class described comprising an outer waist and hip encircling portion extending downwardly a distance to conceal substantially the crotch of the wearer and below the waist being formed of a continuous band of material, an inner trousers portion comprising inner back, front and crotch portions and integral leg encircling portions, means for permanently securing the upper extremity of the inner-front trousers portion to the inner front Waist line of said outer portion, the back of said trousers portion terminating in a free unsecured edge beneath said outer portion, the back and front trousers portion being spaced from each other at the sides from said leg encircling portions to the waist line, a supporting belt connected to the free unsecured edge of the back of said trousers portion and passing through side openings provided in the outer portion to the front of the garment exteriorly of said outer portion for supporting the upper extremity of the back trousers portion about the body of the wearor at the waist line, means for limiting withdrawal of said belt through said openings, one of said leg encircling portions opening at the outside of the leg, and means for detachably securing the edges of said opening, said means for limiting withdrawal of said belt through said openings comprising a second belt secured at each end of said first belt at points spaced from the free ends of said first belt and passing around the back of the garment to give the effect of a continuous belt line when the ends of the first belt are fastened in wearing position.

MAUI) L. RIEFFANNACHT. 

